From Caribbean360

NEW YORK, United States,  CMC – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says the leader and four members of a sophisticated criminal organization that trafficked large quantities of drugs using the US Postal Service from Puerto Rico have been indicted.

On the weekend [April 12/13], ICE reported that the alleged ring leader, Juan Valdez, was arrested at a home in the Bronx where over US$7,000 in cash was seized.

An indictment filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor charges Valdez with conspiracy, the possession and sale of controlled substances, weapons possession, money laundering, and other crimes.

Also arrested were Juan Bernal and Ada Padilla.

ICE said that on September 11, 2013, agents and detectives searched the residence of Gregorio Hanley and his wife Johanna Vasquez, which housed the day care centre Fun World Childcare.

The investigation revealed that Fun World Childcare served as a cover for the drug organization.

ICE said agents and detectives seized narcotics and cash from the location. Hanley and Vasquez were arrested and charged at that time.

The wiretap investigation revealed that Valdez oversaw the day-to-day activities of the lucrative narcotics operation based in New York City and Puerto Rico, with assistance from Bernal and Hanley.

During the investigation, ICE found that Valdez frequently travelled between New York City and Puerto Rico.

It was further reported that since 2009, the US Postal Inspection Service has seized packages containing 23 kilograms of cocaine worth about US$1.4 million linked to Valdez’s organization.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/four-convicted-for-drug-smuggling-using-us-postal-service-from-puerto-rico#ixzz2zWTqcxsl